Top Studio Executives Rejoin Negotiations as WGA Strike Persists

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has resumed bargaining with major studios as the 142-day writers strike approaches a record duration. In a departure from previous sessions, top CEOs including Bob Iger of Disney and Ted Sarandos of Netflix joined the talks. The WGA is seeking a residual formula based on streaming views and a mandatory minimum staffing level for TV writers rooms, while the studios have offered a 15% first-year hike in minimum rates for writer-producers. The strike has already led to film release delays and the postponement of the Emmys, with the potential for the 2023-24 TV season to be heavily impacted.